Well know species, such as the Monarch butterfly, are candidates for extinction, but don't make it to the list because other species are "higher priority":
As a kid, I loved the monarch migration that came through our mountain community. Thousands and thousands of them. Then hundreds. Then dozens. Then lucky to see a single one.
I see so many monarchs
Then man fails his role
No longer do I see them
Deckard: "It's artificial?"
Rachael: "Of course it is."
Is this from somewhere? Interesting 7-5-7 syllables per line, like an inside-out haiku.
Just made it up
Does the list have a maximum quota? I would have thought that the list could grow to accommodate any species that meet certain criteria?